Holidays in Lake Maggiore

Walking in Lake Maggiore ranges from strolling along flower-lined promenades in the summer to heading off on adventurous mountain routes. The walk from Stresa to Passera is a superb introduction, weaving wanderers through forests and the villages of Brisino, Falchetto and Belgirate. Fondotoce Nature Reserve, meanwhile, offers 5km of hiking and cycling paths through lakeside marshes with mountain views.

Got a head for heights? Set your sights on Mottarone (1,491m). The Chestnut Route (Sentiero dei Castagni) also starts from Stresa, where cobbled footpaths climb to a viewpoint from which you can see seven Italian and Swiss lakes on a clear day. Or there’s always the trails of Val Grande National Park – Italy’s biggest wilderness area.

Our summer holidays in Lake Maggiore are based in the towns of Stresa and Baveno, on the westerly Gulf of Borromeo. As the locale suggests, they’re brilliantly poised for trips to the Borromean Islands opposite them. And although the towns are neighbours, they offer two very different ways of life. Baveno is the quiet one, ideal for a leisurely 'passeggiata', walking along the promenade peppered with cafés, villas and gardens. Stresa is the popular one – and has been throughout the summer for centuries, with writers and royalty staying in its grand hotels and villas.

One of the highlights of a holiday to Lake Maggiore is exploring the famous Borromean Islands. This small archipelago sits at the heart of the lake, easily reached by ferry from Stresa or Baveno. Boats shuttle visitors across the water to Isola Bella and Isola Madre, both home to grand summer palaces and beautifully manicured gardens bursting with seasonal colour. Isola dei Pescatori – the only island with a permanent population – offers a very different charm, with narrow lanes, fishing boats bobbing on the shore, and waterfront restaurants serving the daily catch. These islands are best explored on foot, discovering tucked-away corners, shady courtyards, and lake views around every bend.

In Lake Maggiore ferries, trains and buses usher walkers between lakefront towns and villages all summer long. Day trips include wine tastings in the vineyards of Piedmont and walking around peaceful Lake Orta, which is tucked away amongst the forested foothills to the west. Milan is an hour’s drive to the south; head there for the day and gaze at the stunning Milan Cathedral or explore the shops in the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. The marble quarries north of Lake Maggiore provided the building blocks for the architectural extravaganza that is Milan Cathedral. For more in the way of natural wonders, hop north over the border to Switzerland to marvel at some of the highest mountains in the Alps.

Lake Maggiore's varying micro-climates produce delicious ingredients – lemons, olives and alpine cheeses. Being on the border with Switzerland the local cheese is some of the best around; famous for its traditional cow's milk cheese, Ossolano dell'Alpe and of course who could forget Gorgonzola! If you hop over to Isola dei Pescatori, one of the most untouched of the Borromean Islands, make sure you try the fresh fish. The island definitely lives up to its name, Fisherman's Island, and is a great example of locals keeping traditional industries alive.